A Walk Between Fall & Winter

by Josh and Brent

Late November and early December aren’t what most people would call the prettiest season on the farm. Unless there’s a snowstorm that sticks around for few days, the landscape is pretty drab. Dull. Brown, brown, brown.

During these busy holiday shopping weeks in the Beekman 1802 Mercantile, we almost never see the farm in daylight. We head down to the warehouse before the sun comes up, and come home long after it goes down. And while we think we might not be missing much, we are.

Because just like in life, when things around you seems colorless and boring, you really just need to look a little more closely. We recently took a walk around the farm and discovered a lot more brilliance than we could see from inside the windows.

Let’s head out to the barn…

Careful. There’s been a bit of rain lately.

We break up any extra giant pumpkins for the goats. They love the flesh and seeds.

The goats choose to spend most of their time in the barn right now.

They don’t like having their hooves wet, and hate the mud.

Apparently everyone is pretty happy in the barn.

All of these girls are pregnant. They’re all between 1-3 months along.

They’re just beginning to show.

The first batch of kids begins being born around Valentines Day.

The births will continue through April.

No one here seems in any rush.

Some songbirds have moved into the barn for the winter. It’s nice to still have some “summer noise.”

Egg production drops drastically with less daylight hours. But there’s still enough for holiday baking.

By the time we leave the barn, the night lights have come on.

A couple of pumpkins we’re saving for winter treats for the goats.

Our vegetable garden looks sad, right? But…

…Onder has some exciting things to show us.

There’s still some lettuce ready for picking!

And radicchio!

And kale!

And Siberian kale!

And arugula!

And spinach!

And rhubarb! (But we’ll leave this little guy…not even enough for a tart.)

And brussels sprouts!

People always think of gardening as a summer hobby. But there’s really only about 3 months of the year when we can’t find anything to harvest.

This pumpkin came from a vine that grew up through one of the tomato cages. The pumpkin grew inside the cage and is now trapped. We’ll have to wait till it decomposes enough to remove it.

Even Onder gets a little more subdued this time of year.

Unless, of course, she spots a barn cat.

These snow patches have stuck around for a week.

Are these Bur Oak acorns beautiful? We need to make a wreath from them one year.

The weather has been so strange. Snow. Rain. 70F temperatures. It’s very rare to find a mushroom growing this time of year.

Unless there’s snowfall, Josh can always find a four leave clover…

Or two…

Or three…

Or four. (He’s got a gift.)

An extra bright spot of color. A rose hip.

This house has stared down 214 oncoming winters.

Onder loves snow. Even when there are just a few patches.

When the leaves are gone, you notice the more subtle colors of a tree.

Sometimes not so subtle.

Sometimes downright vibrant!

This was a giant pumpkin given to us by a kind neighbor. We’ll save this for a giant Christmas present to the goats.

Onder is never ready to end a walk. Sometimes she leaves us hints that there’s still more fun to be had outside.

I love you all of you…Hi Onder. you are a very lucky dog to have all that love from the boys, you so deserve, and that beautiful farm you all deserve…You are the most loving, good people…..Merry Christmas, thank you for all the caring that you put into your products for me, and all to enjoy…See you in the New Year, be safe and stay well……….
Love from DeeDee Kramer from Olympia, Washington…your long time follower
xoxoxox
PS…Thank You Goats for all the cream!!!!!!!

Beautiful and colorful photos! I had this discussion with someone who was visiting from “the big city.” As we were driving along a country highway, she commented, “Ugh, why does anyone want to live here? It’s so brown and ugly. There’s just brown everywhere!”
I looked around, and I did see brown everywhere, but I also saw the deep evergreens, copper branches of wild shrubs, charcoal grays of the deciduous trees, and the tall golden grasses. I pointed these out to her, and she had to agree. You just have to look beyond the brown to see the beautiful variety of colors!

Incredible that you guys are still harvesting greens! You need a good recipe to use them up. The traditional Persian frittata “Kuku Sabzi” is great for this, plus it will use up some of the eggs you have:http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-persian-herb-frittata-kuku-sabzirecipes-from-the-kitchn-176590
You can substitute any greens you have for what’s listed, that’s what a Persian cook would do.
Thank you for diligently seeking out the color in this otherwise grey and leaden time of year. Best wishes for a smoothly proceeding birthing season for those goats.

Hi Josh and Brent! I just got done ordering the Beekman box and two of the hand caddies with wash and hand cream, one in the rose and the other in pure goat’s milk off Evine! I can’t wait to get them. I ordered the Beekman box last Christmas and loved it so much and had to get this years special! Thank you both for all the hard work and love you put into these items for us, you can tell it is done with such care for us all. I wish you both and farmer John and all the lovely goats and Onder a blessed Christmas season, filled with love and peace and joy. I thank you also for the wonderful photos you share with us, they are so beautiful!!! Sending love and peace to you, your neighbors from down south in Newport News Virginia! Sincerely Barbara and John Santiago and our little wirehaired blonde Doxie “Tizzy” too!

Hey Guys been watching and shopping with you on evine, enjoy the shows so much and the baby goats. I know youve been really busy like Santa. But please consider my idea about the 4leaf clover. ( see previous post) Thank You

Thanks for sharing! Made me smile. I live in sunny Southern California where not a whole lot about the landscape changes throughout the year. I’m lucky enough to live it the foothills so I’m out hiking or riding my bike every chance I get. There is something so rejuvenating about being out in nature.

Most awesome walk, starting with the dirt drive way and the muddy water, soo good and earthy, two lights over the barn door and concrete blocks piled on the side, paint missing on the barn tells me that barn is good and used for just the right thing, happy critters, little munched on fouyr leaf clovers, paw prints on the porch, dried garden delights, happy doggy and goats, and fat pumkin tells me all is alive and well here, and a good place for everyone who lives here who can be seen and for those who cant be seen. Jolly good!

I’m a very busy nurse working trauma and illness; thank you for the trip to the farm reminding us that life is full of wonder and special joys during even the cold winter days. The goats “smiling” faces made me laugh. The splendor of garden foods and gifts of pumpkins. Now, this will help me through my work days. Thank you Beekman Neighbors!

Thank you! With an elderly parent who is gravely ill and a dear nephew with a new diagnosis of lesions on his lung – after successfully beating Ewing’s Sarcoma twice – I thought I was going to have a terrible day; however, the both of you, along with all of the residents of the farm, truly reminded me that life is hard – but God is good.

You guys are just so much fun, so entertaining, and uplifting..I loved the walk thru the farm..I too wish your show would come on tv again..I would even enjoy seeing the reruns!..I wish the very best Xmas, and New Year, to you, your loved ones, neighbors, and all of your wonderful animals..

Loved your brown winter farm tour. It brings back memories of our house we so enjoyed in VanHornesville not far from you guys. We were younger then more tolerant of mud and blizzards! Now retired to the NJ shore. We do return for your Harvest Festival love it! Thanks for sharing. Beautiful pictures

Hi Guys, truly enjoyed walking around the farm with you,. You have been blessed. Iam jealous, lol. There is 1 thing which caught my eye and its something we dont have here in bklyn ny. The 4 leaf clover. So was thinking maybe there could be a contest . luck winner gets a 4leaf clover from the farm., or if Josh could find enough of them …lol. you could put them in a case and sell them so we could all have a little piece of the farm. Just a thought Id like to share. looking forward to all the beekman gifts under the tree this year. TY

Love your photos! I used to go to Maine every Fall without fail for a much-needed taste of the changing season. Your photos, though not of Maine, bring back some very fond memories. You are two lucky guys!